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A Christian worker who was dismissed from her job at Heathrow Airport has been granted permission to challenge a ruling by an employment tribunal which left her without any rights under employment law. Last year, an Employment Tribunal found that Nohad Halawi was not technically employed, so she had no protection under employment law, despite the fact she had worked at Heathrow for 13 years. But the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London has allowed this decision to be appealed. Mrs Halawi worked at a duty free shop at Heathrow Terminal 3. But management took away her ‘airside pass’ – meaning she was unable to continue working at the airport – after Muslim colleagues made unsubstantiated complaints about her conduct. Mrs Halawi had stood up for a Christian colleague who was being harassed by Islamist staff and complained to management over personal abuse and harassment from Islamist staff members over her Christian faith.
Pray: for Mrs. Halawi and that at her next hearing the Employment Appeal Tribunal will agree that she was employed and deserves the protection of the law. . (Ps.145:18)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/employment/christian-woman-sacked-after-islamist-harassment-granted-application-to-appe
Margaret Forrester discussed the booklet with family planning staff at the health centre where she worked because she felt that the NHS was failing to give patients information about the risks and other options to terminating a pregnancy. But after a six-month disciplinary process, during which Ms Forrester had to fight her own case and became ill, she was found guilty of ‘gross professional misconduct’ and fired. She has spoken out over the ‘scandal’ of the pro-abortion culture in the medical profession and claimed that Christians were ‘an easy target’ for ‘politically correct’ bureaucrats in the NHS. ‘The NHS has a pro-abortion stance which comes from a secular religion. It is a belief system which is aggressively anti-Christian,’ she said. Ms Forrester’s difficulties began on Nov 2 last year, when she had an informal conversation with a colleague in her role as a psychological wellbeing practitioner in Westminster, central London.
Pray: for Margaret and that those in the NHS who have responsibility for advising those seeking an abortion will adopt a more balanced view. (Dt.30:19)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8569283/Christian-sacked-after-abortion-leaflet-row.html
A Christian radio station has been given the go-ahead to appeal a court decision which upheld a ban on an advert asking Christians whether they are being sidelined at work. In its decision to grant the appeal, the court said the radio station’s case is ‘Arguable and important’. Premier Christian Radio had criticised the decision in April this year as ‘reminiscent of a totalitarian state’. The Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (RACC) stopped it from being aired, claiming that it was ‘directed to a political end’. But lawyers for Premier said: ‘The advertisement was not a political message but a request for information which could then be used as part of the normal democratic process, where ideas and views are expressed in public discussion, contradicted, answered and debated.’ The ad quoted surveys showing that 60 per cent of active Christians were being increasingly marginalised at work.
Pray: for this case when it is heard at the Appeal Court as it underlines the erosion of free speech of faith groups. (2Co.10:5)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-radio-ad-ban-decision-can-be-appealed/
The Christian owner of a printing firm in Northern Ireland faces being hauled to court over his refusal to print a gay magazine. Nick Williamson, who is being advised by The Christian Institute, says printing the material would go against his religious beliefs. But the editor of MyGayZine, Danny Toner, has approached a solicitor and referred the matter to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Mr Williamson was asked to provide a cost estimate for printing the magazine, timed to coincide with a gay rights march in Belfast. But in an email to Mr Toner, Mr Williamson said he did “not feel comfortable” taking the job on because it “would be in contradiction to my own faith”. Mr Williamson had initially explained: “Unfortunately due to the nature of the magazine we are unable to give a quote.” But Mr Toner said “If we can take the printer to court, we will”.
Pray: for understanding and respect of each others views that will resolve this matter without litigation. (Ro.8:7)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-printer-faces-being-sued-by-gay-magazine/
A Scottish court has fined a street preacher £1,000 after answering a question about homosexuality. Shawn Holes, who is American, was kept in a police cell overnight and then charged with a breach of the peace. The accusation was that he had used ‘homophobic remarks’ that were ‘aggravated by religious prejudice’. Freedom concerns have been raised that this case shows religious liberty is under threat. One commentator described the charges against the preacher as ‘grotesque’. Shawn Holes was in Scotland with a group of American colleagues preaching on a wide variety of topics. ‘I was talking generally about Christianity and sin’, he said. He continued: ‘I only talked about these other issues because I was specifically asked. Mr Holes later commented: ‘It felt like a set-up by gay campaigners.’ Mr Holes’ lawyer said: ‘This case raises important issues about the interface between the criminal law in Scotland, freedom of speech and religious freedom.’
Pray: against the progressive limitation on free speech and religious freedom as shown in this incident. (Ga.5:1)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-preacher-fined-for-speaking-on-homosexuality/
A Christian nurse who refused to remove her crucifix at work has told an employment tribunal she felt ‘persecuted’ because of her faith. Shirley Chaplin, who has worn her cross every day for 30 years, said she felt that Muslim members of staff were treated with greater understanding when it came to outward symbols of their religion. The 54 year-old was banned from working on hospital wards and moved to an office job by Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust after she failed to hide the cross she wore as a necklace. She is now suing her hospital employers. Mrs Chaplin is supported in her case by seven
leading bishops who have written a letter to The Sunday Telegraph published on 28 April. DailyTelegraph In the letter, the Bishops express their deep disquiet at the double standards of public sector employers, claiming that Christians are punished while followers of other faiths are treated far more sensitively. (See Prayer Alert 3909)
Pray: for all those whose faith is challenged in the workplace. (Ps.109:28)
The Christian Legal Centre (CLC) pledged to stand up against what it feels is the growing problem of traditional Christian views being ‘silenced or sidelined’ in modern Britain. Weeks after concluding a high-profile battle to allow an electrician to display a palm cross in his company van, the CLC said it had more than 50 similar cases on its books as a growing number of Christians seek to fight employers who they feel do not respect their faith. Andrea Williams, CLC chief executive, said she had been ‘inspired’ by groups like the US-based Alliance Defence Fund (ADF), which seek to raise a ‘new generation of lawyers to defend Christianity in the public sphere’. With the help of the ADF, the CLC and its partner organisation, Christian Concern For Our Nation, have set up a new Academy aimed at teaching the skills necessary for ‘servant-hearted, Christ-centered leadership in public life’.
Pray: for the new Academy; that it will be better able to defend those who wish to ‘stand up and be counted’ as Christians in an increasingly secularist society. (Pr.31:8)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8486552/Christian-lawyers-step-up-court-campaign.html
In a new case of shocking intolerance a Christian mental health worker has been effectively suspended by her employers because she expressed her opinion in a private conversation with colleagues and showed them a booklet containing stories of women and the devastating impact of abortion on their lives. Margaret Forrester has worked for Central North West London Mental Health Trust for over two years and the NHS for over 7 years. Earlier in November she was on a temporary secondment and sat next to two health workers whose job is to advise women on abortions. She felt that women seeking abortions were not given all of the alternatives available to help them make an informed decision, so she gave a small booklet to her co-workers which documents the testimonies of women who have been impacted by abortion. She faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for ‘distributing materials some people may find offensive’ and may well be sacked.
Pray: for all Christians in the workplace as they face challenges over their faith that God will guide them. (Ps.20:6)
Christians have defended their work in schools following strong criticism and accusations of proselytisation from the National Secular Society. The NSS claims in its new report, 'Evangelism in state schools', that publicly funded schools are being ‘targeted and exploited’ by evangelical Christian groups with the aim of converting young people to the faith. ‘We do not doubt that pupils' education can be enhanced by the input made by external contributors, but it appears clear from the evidence that many external school visitors are primarily concerned with evangelisation rather than education,’ the report states. The NSS says parents and schools should be ‘deeply concerned’ by evangelical Christian groups providing religious education, school worship, pastoral work, prayer spaces and Bible-based clubs in state schools ‘without parents' knowledge and with little, if any, opportunity for withdrawal’.
Pray: that the work of Christians will not be stopped because of the NSS claims but that God will continue to bless them. (Ps.67:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.contribution.to.schools.defended/34345.htm
The Head of a Christian advocacy group says Christians must resist attempts to broaden the definition of marriage. However, Simon Hughes, Deputy Liberal Democrat leader, and who is a Christian and admitted previously to being bisexual, said he believed the Government would make it possible for the term ‘civil marriage’ to apply to same-sex couples before the next General Election. ‘It would be appropriate in Britain in 2010 and 2011 for there to be the possibility of civil marriage for straight people and gay people equally,’ he said, adding ‘That’s different of course from faith ceremonies which are matters for the faith communities they have to decide what recognition to give.’ Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and director of Christian Concern for Our Nation, said: ‘We should resist this attempt to undermine marriage at the heart of our society and fight to retain the traditional status of marriage as that between a man and a woman.’ Pray: that the explicit purposes of matrimony being procreative and unitive are recognised by all. (1Co.16:13)